Cheap "Measurement" microphone?

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head_unit

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#1
This is first of all for use in a classroom to measure sound from various sources (plucked strings, pipes, drums) into a laptop.

I'd also like to use it to measure a reasonably accurate frequency response.

I know there are very accurate and very expensive phantom power mics out there, but that's not what I need or want to pay for. I'm basically looking for a mic which can record audio at a wide variety of frequencies-not just speech/dictation. Then, if some more money will buy me better accuracy, I'll consider that.

Like those old Panasonic capsule mics they used to discuss in Speaker Builder magazine, maybe. But I don't have time to build something, and it must plug in to a laptop mic input.

Danke Schoen
 
#2
I looked around for a cheap mic for a little while, but eventually came to the conclusion that if I wanted it cheap and good enough for measurement I'd have to build one.

I built this one: <B>How to Build a Condensor Microphone... a Do it Yourself project.</B>

Apart from the mic capsule I think all the other stuff can be had from radio shack. It only took a little bit to wire it up. I plug it straight into my laptop and can record stuff, but I've got a somewhat dodgy laptop sound card (not quite full duplex capable) so I haven't actually produced good measurements with it yet. I'll get there eventually...

If you really don't want to touch a soldering iron I'd look around for a cheap USB mic. I don't know if that'll get you where you want to go.
 
#5
#8
I didn't define "cheap" because to me "cheap" is relative depending on value. Something that will just take in sound might only be worth $5 but something I could actually measure speakers well enough to design crossover might be worth $100.

I have too much else on my mind to make a project, but in the summertime I might, so kit stuff might be OK...
 
#11
I have a cheap omnidirectional condenser microphone which I use to use for drum overheads, I am at work typing this so I don't have the brand/model handy. Would that kind of thing be good enough to roughly analyze speaker boxes I build? In particular to help me with port tuning, and stuffing changes, which seem to be an inexact science that requires before and after measurements.

I am also quite happy to build DIY a microphone if someone can point me to the right insert to use.
 
#12
Here you go. It's designed for smart phones, but works just as well from a PC without need of a preamp.

Dayton Audio iMM-6 Calibrated Measurement Microphone for Tablets iPhone iPad and Android

head_unit said:
This is first of all for use in a classroom to measure sound from various sources (plucked strings, pipes, drums) into a laptop.

I'd also like to use it to measure a reasonably accurate frequency response.

I know there are very accurate and very expensive phantom power mics out there, but that's not what I need or want to pay for. I'm basically looking for a mic which can record audio at a wide variety of frequencies-not just speech/dictation. Then, if some more money will buy me better accuracy, I'll consider that.

Like those old Panasonic capsule mics they used to discuss in Speaker Builder magazine, maybe. But I don't have time to build something, and it must plug in to a laptop mic input.

Danke Schoen
Click to expand...
 
#15
The Dayton imm-6's are nice little pieces, I have one. I use it with my iphone running Audio Tools from Studio Six (I had a JL Audio branded free RTA application, but I discarded it as it was giving odd results). The Dayton USB mic is nice also (for more $$$), I use one of those on my computer for REW.
 
#17
If you're looking for a cheap way to make acoustic measurements, I'd say the IMM-6 is a no-brainer. I wouldn't expect the type of smartphone to have much impact on the quality of measurement, but don't have any experience to back that up.

Do budget for a worthwhile app to use with it, the PE page lists one for iphone and another for android. Still very economical.

I haven't tried the IMM-6 on a computer. I think the smartphone user interface is generally pretty limited. For anything more than casual measurements I'd use computer software.
 
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